Finishing Side Projects in 5 Easy Steps

Being able to multitask at work is an impeccable trait to have! But, taking on too many things at once may not be such a great idea. There’s rarely enough time to tackle all of them in a single day, so be selective on which projects to put your time into- but how?

Make sure your creation won’t be short lived.

When creative juices are flowing how they should be, it’s easy to come up with tons of ideas that you think are amazing, when in actuality they could be not so great.  This makes it even more difficult to actually finish a project before you think of another- one that is “better” than the previous. Make sure that you’re really really excited about one idea.

Give yourself a time frame of about 10 days to determine if you’re still excited, if so, jump on it!  Assess how difficult this project is going to be; how long will it take? What resources do you need?  What resources do you have access to? Are you excited enough about this project to work on it after a long day in the office? Give yourself a preliminary run – commit one hour each day after work to your side project.  If you find yourself making positive progress, you’re on the right track!  Keep pushing that project!

Be considerate of your employer’s time.

There have been plenty of occasions where my employer has asked me to take on side projects on the company’s behalf, and there have been plenty of times that I get so engaged in my side projects that I have to remind myself not to forget about my “day job”.

Always keep in mind that even though your employer approved your time being invested into such side project, be mindful of the company’s time and resources.  If you get the feeling that you’re slacking on the work that you were hired to do, you’re probably right.  Trust your instincts- always give priority to the job you were hired to do.

Knowing when and what to invest your energy into is a key point in maintaining stability and finishing a project. If the project is not being conducted on behalf of your employer, it’s best to not give it much attention during work hours.

Tell other people about it!

When you tell other employers about your endeavors you get the feedback you need! First reactions can tell you all you need to know sometimes- pay attention to the tone of their voice; do they sound excited about your ideas or do the sound disinterested? The main goal is to find a common domination among your target market. How is their body language? – Are they facing you? Sitting up right? Yawning? Face resting in their hand? Get them excited! When your colleagues show interest in supporting you, all endeavor become easier, so does the awkward, “how is your project going?” question.

Put in the time!

If you really want to see your side project flourish, you may have to skip relaxing on your nights and weekends.  Sacrificing an episode or two of your favorite show doesn’t sounds that appealing, but you can always catch up later! Time is of the essence, and your employer’s time is valuable. Schedule a set time when you get home to work on it x amount of days out the week, or if you’re an early bird, plan time in the morning before going into work.  If you never PLAN the time, you will never get it done!  Make you project part of your day-to-day activities.  It’ll feel less like work and more like a hobby.

Reward yourself for progress.

Never fail to recognize your own hard work! Praise from others is great, but sometimes, it’s nice to acknowledge yourself for your accomplishments. Catch up on your favorite show, take a nap, join happy hour, and do some retail therapy, whatever it takes. It takes more than you anticipate to stay committed and put in the time and effort- Seeing any side project through deserves recognition.